Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-02-19

'CAS 1hdiS, IOlII0 anu uIcoo ulc, ttlu
you. Gay, pick up all these beads,
there's a dear, and finish the pin.
cushion, and then all these things can
be put away. / must 60 and see HIM,
suppose, but he must wait while |
get myself tidy. Be quick, Mary, 60
and get my sprigged gown, and find
me a pretty cap-Im coming directly.
Gay, my dear, I'll snow you how to
do that pincushion when ! come
down." and so saying, Aunt Judy
hustled off.
Gay was on her hands and knees in
n moment, anxious to hide the quick
flame that leaped into her cheeks.
She gathered up all the beads in a
fever of excitement, and then sat down
on d sofa, waiting breathlessly. After
a long, time she heard Aunt Judy toll
ing downs tairs. The drawins-ro
door opened; she sprang forward in
time to see Aunt Judy's lilac skirts
sweep across the threshold-in time
to hear: "How do you do, Aunt
judy" in strong. sweet voice. that
thrilled through every fiber OF her be-
ing. Yes, 1t was Theodore-her Theo-
dore. After all they would meet
again. Was it by chance, she wonder
ed, or had he came knowingly, to
prove to her how completely and in
exorably he had changed? For if he
had not changed, would he have not
come before?
The sound OF the drawing bell ring
ing violently about ten minutes after
made her start and become hot all
over. In few minutes she heard
steps advancing. She seized the pin
cushion and turned it over and over
in her fingers. But it was only the
maid with a message from Aunt Judy:
would Miss Gay please 60 to the
drawing-room?"
The time had come.
As soon as the maid had disappeared
Gabrielle fled to her room and looked
at herself critically in the mirror.
She had on white gown. 1t was clean
and soft-lookIng, so she would not
change it; but, quickly arranging her
bright curly hair, and fastening clus-
ter OF red roses, in her dress, she gave
one parting look at her pretty, erect
vi Q, anu Ittll uo"h GlIiLS.
With heart beating to suffocation
she opened the door, closed it behind
her, and walked slowly into the mid
die of the room.
Theodore rose as she entered, and
the two stood looking at each other,
half the length OF the room between
them; he tall, slight, strong, his fair
face flushed and eager, his keen blue
eyes looking questioningly into hers;
she erect, steady eyes answering his.
"How do you do?" they said, stiffly,
and then Gay retired to the window
seat, and Theodore, sitting down again
by Aunt Judy, continued the CONVEX
sation with her.
1t was all over in a moment. They
had met again. but oh! how different
was this from thelong-hoped. for meet
ingl Gabrielle felt that she must &C
cept her fate. Once friends, they were
now little more than strangers. 1t was
true-tbey had both changed.
The afternoon passed like dream.
To sit in the same room with him, to
be within sound of that thrilling voice
was happiness enough, even with that
dark great gulf that lay between them
"a gulf which Gay vaguely believed
would never be bridged over.
Theodore's absolute self possession
gave the girl courage. Insensibly the
hauteur OF her manner
into a quiet indifference. She
without embarrassment,
looking straight at him as she spoke,
until at last she gained confidence
enough even to address him first.
When tea was brought in, Gay serv-
ed it and when, as he took the cup
from her hand, and their fingers touch
ed, the grave eyes looking into his did
not swerve for moment, though the
tell-tale color famed instantly into
her cheeks.
The conversation, which otherwise
might have been somewhat con-
was carried on briskly
enough, for Aunt Judy was never at a
loss, and her delightful unconscious
ness of the situation soon put the
others at their ease. Her interest in
and affection for her nephew increased
every moment for Theodore's ingenu-
Gus manner, his modesty and manli-
ness, were winning.
Although he had much to tell, he
spoke but little OF himself. He had
been working hard abroad, and need
ed rest, as his health was suffering.
Finding his native town busily en-.
gagged in holiday making. he had come
down to visit an old college friend of
his at Leafy End, q village two or
three miles distant from Leafy Lane,
where he hoped to enjoy the quietude
that he needed.
Aunt Judy was all sympathy.
'What was the matter with him,
then? She had never heard that he
was delicate" And then she begged
to know the symptoms, as she had
certain cures for everything in her
medicine chest.
But Theodore laughed and waived
the question saying that the country
air had done him good already, and
that he hoped to stay until he was
really quite well.
Theodore Marston did stay. For a
whole week he came and went, flash
ing through the dreariness OF "Ennui
like a sun ray or snatch of
song. Many a walk. the had-he and
round the old-fashioned
garden, but Aunt Judy was always be-
tween them; and when, in the moon
light, Gabrielle sat singing at the piano
The songs were always Aunt Judy's
Iavorites, while the good old lady
herself sat wide awake in the big arm
chair, beating time with her knitting.
needle. So the barrier remained,